Cord lock

ABSTRACT

A cord lock may include a first main body, two sliding blocks, two pressing members, a cord, and a shell. The first main body has two first through holes and a sliding rail, and each of the two first through holes extended vertically has an oval cross section and the two first through holes are laterally symmetrical, and the sliding rail is adapted to penetrate through two lateral ends of the first main body horizontally. The two sliding blocks horizontally movable in the sliding rail of the first main body are movable in the two first through holes respectively.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cord lock and more particularly to a cord lock with the stability of the displacement of the slide block, and the smoothness of the operation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The shoes are often tied with shoelaces, to enable the user to walk, run and jump. However, the shoelaces are easily loosened that is inconvenient for the user, so that it is common that a cord lock is used to cooperate with the shoelaces so as to keep the shoes secured. Nevertheless, the springs of the cord lock for pressing and loosening may not work properly so as to cause inconvenience for the users. Therefore, there remains a need for a new and improved design for a cord lock to overcome the problems presented above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a cord lock comprising a first main body, two sliding blocks, two pressing members, a cord, and a shell. The first main body has two first through holes and a sliding rail, and each of the two first through holes extended vertically has an oval cross section and the two first through holes are laterally symmetrical, and the sliding rail is adapted to penetrate through two lateral ends of the first main body horizontally. The two sliding blocks horizontally movable in the sliding rail of the first main body are movable in the two first through holes respectively. Each of the sliding blocks has a spacing piece to form a closed arc hole and an opening arc recess at two sides thereof, and the first through hole of the main body is divided into an outer through hole and an inner through hole through the spacing piece. The inner through hole and the outer through hole are located at positions corresponding to the arc recess and the arc hole respectively. Each of the two pressing members is located at the outer end of the sliding block for pressing by the user. The cord is configured to bottom-up pass through the inner through hole of the first through hole, and top-down pass through the outer through hole, and the cord is fastened by the turning of the cord and the friction between sliding block and the cord, and the cord is loosened by pressing the sliding blocks. The first main body is covered by a shell, and the shell has a top surface and a first edge, and each of two lateral sides of the first edge has a driving hole. The pressing member is movable through the driving hole so as to strengthen the displacement stability of the sliding block. The first main body has a first front protruding piece at the front end thereof while the first rear protruding piece is formed at the rear end of the first main body, and the first front protruding piece and the first rear protruding piece are respectively abutted against the inner wall of the first edge of the shell so as to position the shell on the first main body.

In one embodiment, a plurality of first hooks are formed on the inner wall of the shell, and when the cord is stressed and flatten, the first hooks are configured to hook on the surface of the cord, and when the fastened process is completed and the cord is released, the first hooks are configured to keep hooking on the surface of the cord to make the cord not easy to be loosened.

Comparing with conventional cord lock, the present invention is advantageous because: (i) the pressing members of the sliding blocks pass through the driving holes so as to improve the displacement stability of the sliding blocks and the smoothness for fastening and loosening cord; (ii) As used in clothes or shoes, the sliding blocks are not vibrated or overturned by impact of water flow when the clothes and shoes are washed so as to prevent the shell from be detached from the first main body; and (iii) the cord lock can be used in shoes, pants, backpacks, and other packs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional assembly view of a cord lock of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional exploded view illustrating a cord is coupled with a first main body of the cord lock of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional assembly view illustrating the cord is coupled with the first main body of the cord lock of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the cord lock of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional schematic view illustrating two pressing members are pressed to pull the first main body of the cord lock in the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional schematic view illustrating the cord is pulled outwardly to fasten the first main body of the cord lock in the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional schematic view illustrating outer ends of the pressing members are aligned with a shell of the cord lock of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional schematic view illustrating the pressing member is pressed inwardly in the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional schematic view illustrating the pressing member protrude from the first main body of the cord lock of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the shell of the cord lock in the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a third embodiment of the shell of the cord lock in the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the third embodiment of the first main body of the cord lock in the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of a fourth embodiment of the cord lock of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a three-dimensional schematic view of the fourth embodiment of a sliding block of the cord lock in the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description of the presently exemplary device provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be prepared or utilized. It is to be understood, rather, that the same or equivalent functions and components may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods, devices and materials similar or equivalent to those described can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the exemplary methods, devices and materials are now described.

All publications mentioned are incorporated by reference for the purpose of describing and disclosing, for example, the designs and methodologies that are described in the publications that might be used in connection with the presently described invention. The publications listed or discussed above, below and throughout the text are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the inventors are not entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention.

In order to further understand the goal, characteristics and effect of the present invention, a number of embodiments along with the drawings are illustrated as following:

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4 , the present invention provides a cord lock comprising a first main body (10), two sliding blocks (20), two pressing members (21), a cord (30), and a shell (40). The first main body (10) has two first through holes (11) and a sliding rail (12), and each of the two first through holes (11) extended vertically has an oval cross section and the two first through holes (11) are laterally symmetrical, and the sliding rail (12) is adapted to penetrate through two lateral ends of the first main body (10) horizontally. Moreover, the first main body (10) comprises an upper surface (101) and a lower surface (102), and a recessed space (13) is formed on the upper surface (101). The two sliding blocks (20) horizontally movable in the sliding rail (12) of the first main body (10) are movable in the two first through holes (11) respectively. Furthermore, each of the sliding blocks (20) has a spacing piece (22) to form a closed arc hole (23) and an opening arc recess (24) at two sides thereof, and the first through hole (11) of the main body (10) is divided into an outer through hole (111) and an inner through hole (112) through the spacing piece (22). Also, the inner through hole (112) and the outer through hole (111) are located at positions corresponding to the arc recess (24) and the arc hole (23) respectively. Each of the two pressing members (21) is located at the outer end of the sliding block (20) for pressing by the user. The pressing member (21) of the sliding block (20) protruded from the first main body (10) is movable through the recessed space (13) of the first main body (10), and the inner edge of the pressing member (21) has a step-shape abutting edge (211), and the lateral end of the upper surface (101) of the first main body (10) is adapted to abut against the abutting edge (211). The cord (30) is configured to bottom-up pass through the inner through hole (112) of the first through hole (11), the arc recess (24) of the sliding block (20), and then top-down pass through the outer through hole (111), and the arc hole (23). The cord (30) is fastened by the turning of the cord (30) and the friction between sliding block (20) and the cord (30), and the cord (30) is loosened by pressing the sliding blocks (20). The first main body (10) is covered by a shell (40) which is an oval-like rounded body, and the shell (40) has a top surface (41) and a first edge (42), and each of two lateral sides of the first edge (42) has a driving hole (43). The pressing member (21) is movable through the driving hole (43), and the first edge (42) is formed with height and thickness, and the driving hole is formed in curved-shape, so that the contact area between the pressing member (21) and the driving hole (43) is increased so as to strengthen the displacement stability of the sliding block (20). The first main body (10) has a first front protruding piece (14) at the front end thereof while the first rear protruding piece (15) is formed at the rear end of the first main body (10), and the first front protruding piece (14) and the first rear protruding piece (15) are respectively abutted against the inner wall of the first edge (42) of the shell (40) so as to position the shell (40) on the first main body (10).

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 , the two sliding blocks (20) are respectively coupled into the sliding rail (12) of the first main body (10) from two lateral ends of the first main body (10), and each of the sliding blocks (20) is aligned with the first through hole (11), and the inner through hole (112) and the outer through hole (111) are respectively at positions corresponding to the arc recess (24) and the arc hole (23). The cord (30) is configured to bottom-up pass through the inner through hole (112) of the first through hole (11), the arc recess (24) of the sliding block (20), and then top-down pass through the outer through hole (111), and the arc hole (23), and the cord (30) is wound on the spacing piece (22), and the other end of the cord (30) (the same cord) is configured to do the same steps, and the shell (40) covers the first main body (10). The first front protruding piece (14) and the first rear protruding piece (15) are respectively abutted against the inner wall of the first edge (42) of the shell (40) so as to position the shell (40) on the first main body (10). As shown in FIG. 6 , after adjusting the end of the cord (30) to one length, due to the friction between the cord (30) and the sliding blocks (20), the sliding blocks (20) are moved outwardly when the cord (30) is pulled outwardly, and the outer through hole (111) and the arc hole (23) are tightly pressed against the cord (30), and the cord (30) forms a turning bend in the area so as to fasten the cord (30). Referring to FIG. 5 , the cord (30) needs to be loosened, the user can press the pressing members (21) to move the sliding blocks (20) inwardly, and the sliding blocks (20) are adapted to move into the driving holes (43) of the shell (40). Meanwhile, the hole diameter of the inner through hole (112) approximately equal to that of the outer through hole (111) so that the sliding blocks (20) are not pressing against the cord (30), and without the friction between the sliding blocks (20) and the cord (30), the cord (30) is in the loosen status, and the first main body (10) can be pulled up, wherein two sides of the first main body (10) can be pulled together.

The shell (40) is configured to cover the first main body (10), and the two driving holes (43) on the two sides of the shell (40) is designed in curved shape, and the first edge (42) is formed with height and thickness, so that the contact area between the sliding blocks (20) and the driving holes (43) are increased when the pressing members (21) of the sliding blocks (20) pass through the driving holes (43) so as to improve the displacement stability of the sliding blocks (20) and the smoothness for fastening and loosening cord (30). In addition, the two sides of the first main body (10) comprises the recessed spaces (13) to provide space for the pressing members (21), so that when the pressing members (21) are pressed into the recessed spaces (13) (as shown in FIGS. 5, 7 and 8 ). The upper surface (101) is adapted to abut against the abutting edges (211) of the pressing members (21), the outer ends of the pressing members are configured to respectively align with the outer end of the driving holes (43) of the shell (40), and the sliding blocks (20) are movable to enable the cord (30) in the loosen status. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 9 , when the user pulls two ends of the cord (30) toward two lateral sides respectively, each of the two sliding blocks (20) is driven by the cord (30) to move outwardly, and the outer through hole (111) and the arc hole (23) are abutted against the cord (30), so as to form the turning bend and the cord (30) is fastened until the first main body (10) is abutted against the shoe upper. Moreover, each of the sliding blocks (20) is moved in the driving hole (43) of the shell (40), and the first front protruding piece (14) and the first rear protruding piece (15) are abutted against the inner surface of the first edge (42) of the shell (40) so as to position the shell (40) on the first amin body (10). In addition, the outer surface of the shell (40) can have different logos and shapes. Also, the cord lock of the present invention can also be used on backpack or other packs.

In one embodiment, when the cord (30) is pulled outwardly or the first main body (10) is pulled upwardly, the cord (30) is deformed and flatten by force (as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 ), and the cord is adapted to return to its original state when the cord (30) is not stressed (as shown in FIG. 7 ).

In another embodiment, referring to FIG. 10 , a plurality of first hooks (401) are formed on the inner wall of the shell (400), and when the cord (30) is stressed and flatten, the first hooks (401) are configured to hook on the surface of the cord (30), and when the fastened process is completed and the cord (30) is released, the first hooks (401) are configured to keep hooking on the surface of the cord (30) to make the cord (30) not easy to be loosened, and when the cord (30) is re-stressed and re-flatten, the first hooks (401) are released from the cord (30) so that the user is adapted to fasten or loosen the first main body (10) through the cord (30).

In a further embodiment, referring to FIG. 11 , two first recesses (4001) are formed on the inner wall of the shell (4000) to accommodate the cord (30) (not shown in FIGs.) so as to avoid the excessive friction between the round thick cord (30) and the inner surface of the shell (4000); referring to FIG. 12 , the first main body (100) has curved arc-shaped surface at the top and bottom, and the shell (4000) (corresponding to FIG. 11 ) is curved and arc-shaped, so as to fit the curved shoe upper or be used for tightening human waistband.

In still a further embodiment, the shell (40000) is formed in round shape (as shown in FIG. 13 ), and a second front protruding piece (1014) and a second rear protruding piece (1015) of a second main body (100) are extended so as to abut against the inner surface of the shell (40000).

In an advantageous embodiment, referring to FIG. 14 , each of the sliding blocks (20) has two protruding surfaces (25) or has two slightly protruded rough surfaces respectively formed at two lateral surfaces of the sliding block (20) adjacent to the outer end thereof; when the sliding blocks (20) are positioned into the sliding rail (12) of the first main body (10) (same as the first main body (10) in the FIG. 1 ), the protruding surfaces (25) have smaller friction, so that when used in clothes or shoes, the sliding blocks (20) are not vibrated or overturned by impact of water flow so as to prevent the shell (40) from be detached from the first main body (10).

Having described the invention by the description and illustrations above, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the invention and are not to be considered as limiting. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as limited by the foregoing description, but includes any equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A cord lock comprising a first main body, two sliding blocks, a cord, and a shell; wherein the first main body has two first through holes and a sliding rail, and each of the two first through holes extended vertically has an oval cross section and the two first through holes are laterally symmetrical, and the sliding rail is adapted to penetrate through two lateral ends of the first main body horizontally; wherein the two sliding blocks horizontally movable in the sliding rail of the first main body are movable in the two first through holes respectively; each of the sliding blocks has a spacing piece to form a closed arc hole and an opening arc recess at two sides thereof, and the first through hole of the main body is divided into an outer through hole and an inner through hole through the spacing piece; the inner through hole and the outer through hole are located at positions corresponding to the arc recess and the arc hole respectively; each of two pressing members is located at the outer end of the sliding block for pressing by the user; wherein the cord is configured to bottom-up pass through the inner through hole of the first through hole, and top-down pass through the outer through hole, and the cord is fastened by the turning of the cord and the friction between sliding block and the cord, and the cord is loosened by pressing the sliding blocks; and wherein the shell covers the first main body, and the shell has a top surface and a first edge, and each of two lateral sides of the first edge has a driving hole; the pressing member is movable through the driving hole so as to strengthen the displacement stability of the sliding block; the first main body has a first front protruding piece at the front end thereof while the first rear protruding piece is formed at the rear end of the first main body, and the first front protruding piece and the first rear protruding piece are respectively abutted against the inner wall of the first edge of the shell so as to position the shell on the first main body.
 2. The cord lock of claim 1, wherein the first main body comprises an upper surface and a lower surface, and a recessed space is formed on the upper surface; the pressing member of the sliding block protruded from the first main body is movable through the recessed space of the first main body, and the inner edge of the pressing member has a step-shape abutting edge, and the lateral end of the upper surface of the first main body is adapted to abut against the abutting edge.
 3. The cord lock of claim 1, wherein the first edge is formed with height and thickness, and the driving hole is formed in curved-shape, so that the contact area between the pressing member and the driving hole is increased so as to strength the displacement stability of the sliding block.
 4. The cord lock of claim 1, wherein the shell is an oval-like rounded body.
 5. The cord lock of claim 1, wherein a plurality of first hooks are formed on the inner wall of the shell, and when the cord is stressed and flatten, the first hooks are configured to hook on the surface of the cord.
 6. The cord lock of claim 1, wherein two first recesses are formed on the inner wall of the shell to accommodate the cord.
 7. The cord lock of claim 1, wherein he first main body has curved arc-shaped surface at the top and bottom, and the shell is curved and arc-shaped.
 8. The cord lock of claim 1, wherein the shell is formed in round shape, and the first front protruding piece and the first rear protruding piece of the first main body are extended so as to abut against the inner surface of the shell.
 9. The cord lock of claim 1, wherein each of the sliding blocks has two protruding surfaces respectively formed at two lateral surfaces of the sliding block adjacent to the outer end thereof. 